What did I just participate in?!?!

[OldNewCatholic]

Hi all,

First of all I apologise if this is in the wrong section.

Basically I have returned to the faith after 20(ish) years after a false start last year. I’ve read as much as I can on the faith as well and I have been praying (or trying to) over the last year and I have gotten to the point where, while I can’t seem to make the intellectual jump of “believing”, I’ve decided to start attending church.

The first time I went was at the local church and, with the exception of a few changes, it seemed much like I left it back when I was a young lad. Notable was the handing out of communion by what seemed like half the church, changes in the creed etc, hand holding during the our father and a bunch of other stuff I can’t remember atm. None of this really phased me as I knew what to expect after reading this site and my fancy catholic app .

While the I left the first mass feeling pretty good about the whole thing, and after doing what seemed like the worlds largest confession (i thought the priest was going to doze off!) I decided to make the long trek up to receive my first communion since I was a young lad.

I realise I’m rambling so I’ll get to the point. I had to go to a different church in the parish due to another commitment and instead of a repeat of what I had experienced the week before, there was no priest but a female preacher(?) conducting the whole thing. It was similar to the mass but there was no eucharistic prayers and communion was given out by some lady who just went and got it from the tabernacle. There was also a bunch of guitar and cymbal thingies and instead of a crucifix there was big “buddy Christ” type statue over the top of a cross instead of a crucifix above the altar. I’ve since been searching the net and found the word resicrucifix (resurrection + crucifix) which makes sense. The whole thing seemed like the Uniting church my Grandmother and (very rarely) my wife goes to.

Anyway to cut a long story short was that even mass? Does that even fulfil my Sunday obligation? If it doesn’t I’m a little upset as it’s only my second week back! Lastly, if it was a valid mass how can the communion be legit if there was no priest to do his thing?

If anyone can answer these questions for my it would be VERY much appreciated as I’m sitting here a little disillusioned.

Yours in confusement (I don’t think that’s a word) (and I’m aware I use parentheses wayyyyy too much)

J

 

[Phemie]

You seem to have stumbled upon a “Sunday Celebration in the absence of a priest”. It’s basically a Communion Service offered in parishes where a priest is not available on a particular Sunday.

Does it fulfill your obligation? Well, if there was truly no priest available, there was no obligation to attend Mass – the Church doesn’t require the impossible. OTOH, if you could attend Mass somewhere else, you are under the obligation to do so.

 

[Phemie]

You seem to have stumbled upon a “Sunday Celebration in the absence of a priest”. It’s basically a Communion Service offered in parishes where a priest is not available on a particular Sunday. In some parishes those rarely happen, in others they are a fact of life for weeks on end, until they run out of consecrated Hosts or a priest shows up to celebrate Mass.

Does it fulfill your obligation? Well, if there was truly no priest available, there was no obligation to attend Mass – the Church doesn’t require the impossible. OTOH, if you are still able to attend Mass somewhere else, you are under the obligation to do so.

 

[hicetnunc]

Yours in confusement (I don’t think that’s a word) (and I’m aware I use parentheses wayyyyy too much)m

Hi J;

Welcome back to the Church. If there was no priest present, and no words of consecration, there was no mass. Lay people are not capable of saying mass—that is, consecrating the bread and wine as this requires a validly ordained priest acting “in persona Christi”. And as for lay people giving the homily, this is not permitted either. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal says (a.66), “The homily should ordinarily be given by the priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to the deacon, but never to a lay person.” However, lay people are not prohibited from speaking or giving presentations on the faith outside the context of the liturgy, for example, at a retreat or information evening.

You will find, sadly, from time to time, communion services such as these were either there is a lack of a priest on a Sunday or where there is a misguided and abusive attempt by a pastor to provide lay people with “a greater role” in the liturgy.

Your Sunday obligation furthermore is not satisfied by attending a communion service, unless it is difficult, impossible or unreasonable for you to make it to mass. In this case, you would not be guilty of a serious sin by not attending mass (as we would if we failed to fulfil the Sunday obligation, including the obligation to attend mass on Holy Days, without good cause). However, in such cases you do not even need to attend para-liturgical events like the one you describe. But I should add, the dispensation from the Sunday obligation is only obtained with serious reason, such as illness, or being in a foreign country/place where no mass can be found, etc. Being on holiday or having a football game to attend does not suffice. We must make every reasonable effort to fulfill our obligation.

Hope this helps.

 

[OldNewCatholic]

Thanks for your quick replies guys (or girls).

So there has been some sort of “pre-consecration” that the priest performs anyone to hand it out under the correct circumstances? I didn’t go up to receive it as I wasn’t sure if it was the real deal or not.

Regardless, I doubt I’ll be back as my reason for going to this particular church was a family bbq at the regular mass time. Although the church website did say Sunday mass, so I guess the fact my obligation was not fulfilled isn’t as big a deal as I was hoodwinked, or maybe I’m grasping at straws!

Oh well, I’ve waited 20 years so I can wait another week to receive communion.

Thanks again,

J

 

[Dorothy]

Thanks for your quick replies guys (or girls).

So there has been some sort of “pre-consecration” that the priest performs anyone to hand it out under the correct circumstances? I didn’t go up to receive it as I wasn’t sure if it was the real deal or not.

Regardless, I doubt I’ll be back as my reason for going to this particular church was a family bbq at the regular mass time. Although the church website did say Sunday mass, so I guess the fact my obligation was not fulfilled isn’t as big a deal as I was hoodwinked, or maybe I’m grasping at straws!

Oh well, I’ve waited 20 years so I can wait another week to receive communion.

Thanks again,

J

The hosts that are distributed at a communion service are validly consecrated hosts, held in the tabernacle for the day of the service.

This occurs when there are not enough priests to celebrate Mass in certain areas.

 

[Memaw]

You seem to have stumbled upon a “Sunday Celebration in the absence of a priest”. It’s basically a Communion Service offered in parishes where a priest is not available on a particular Sunday. In some parishes those rarely happen, in others they are a fact of life for weeks on end, until they run out of consecrated Hosts or a priest shows up to celebrate Mass.

Does it fulfill your obligation? Well, if there was truly no priest available, there was no obligation to attend Mass – the Church doesn’t require the impossible. OTOH, if you are still able to attend Mass somewhere else, you are under the obligation to do so.

If he was close enough to attend Mass there instead of his own parish church, then why wouldn’t those people be required to attend Mass at a Catholic Church where there is a priest to say Mass. That is IF that really was a Communion Service.
Might have been a Lutheran Church as they have women ministers. And someone who isn’t real familiar with a Catholic Mass might mistake it to be one.God Bless, Memaw

 

[ellzeena]

Thanks for your quick replies guys (or girls).

So there has been some sort of “pre-consecration” that the priest performs anyone to hand it out under the correct circumstances? I didn’t go up to receive it as I wasn’t sure if it was the real deal or not.

Regardless, I doubt I’ll be back as my reason for going to this particular church was a family bbq at the regular mass time. Although the church website did say Sunday mass, so I guess the fact my obligation was not fulfilled isn’t as big a deal as I was hoodwinked, or maybe I’m grasping at straws!

Oh well, I’ve waited 20 years so I can wait another week to receive communion.

Thanks again,

J

I am a Eucharistic Minister (Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, fancy term). I was commissioned by the Pastor in the Church where I serve. A communion service is done when, for some reason, the priest is suddenly unavailable (illness, injury), not if he’s on “vacation”, I believe it’s up to him to provide an alternative priest and there are many retired priests who travel just to do that. As a Eucharistic Minister, I might read from the assigned readings for that day but I’m certainly not giving any homily, that’s not allowed, it’s not my right to do that. And I think a Sunday communion service is especially odd (I’ve never seen that happen!) so the priest must have been quite ill. The Hosts are consecrated at other masses and kept in the tabernacle, that is the real thing, not a fake. Were I to take an unconsecrated host and pass it to someone, I should think that to be a huge sin! As for whether or not it fulfilled your Sunday “obligation”…I don’t know but attending Mass is a privilege, not an obligation. Pray for extraordinary grace so your faith will be bolstered. God listens. Trust me lol.

 

[OldNewCatholic]

If he was close enough to attend Mass there instead of his own parish church, then why wouldn’t those people be required to attend Mass at a Catholic Church where there is a priest to say Mass. That is IF that really was a Communion Service.
Might have been a Lutheran Church as they have women ministers. And someone who isn’t real familiar with a Catholic Mass might mistake it to be one.God Bless, Memaw

It was definitely a catholic church/service. I did notice the parish bulletin there had the service listed with a four letter acronym after it, which i’m now assuming stood for “Sunday Celebration in the absence of a priest” or wtteo as pointed out by another poster.

As far as distance goes it’s only 20 mins or so to the main church. Not that it matters for me as I wont be going back now I know it’s not an actual mass.

As for whether or not it fulfilled your Sunday “obligation”…I don’t know but attending Mass is a privilege, not an obligation. Pray for extraordinary grace so your faith will be bolstered. God listens. Trust me lol.

I’m pretty sure it is an obligation judging by what I’ve read on this website and it’s forums and various other places. That said I think things can be both an obligation and a privilege, like voting in my country

 

[Becca3]

I am a Eucharistic Minister (Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, fancy term). I was commissioned by the Pastor in the Church where I serve. A communion service is done when, for some reason, the priest is suddenly unavailable (illness, injury), not if he’s on “vacation”, I believe it’s up to him to provide an alternative priest and there are many retired priests who travel just to do that. As a Eucharistic Minister, I might read from the assigned readings for that day but I’m certainly not giving any homily, that’s not allowed, it’s not my right to do that. And I think a Sunday communion service is especially odd (I’ve never seen that happen!) so the priest must have been quite ill. The Hosts are consecrated at other masses and kept in the tabernacle, that is the real thing, not a fake. Were I to take an unconsecrated host and pass it to someone, I should think that to be a huge sin! As for whether or not it fulfilled your Sunday “obligation”…I don’t know but attending Mass is a privilege, not an obligation. Pray for extraordinary grace so your faith will be bolstered. God listens. Trust me lol.

Excuse me for I am learning, but what is a homily?? I think I seen one on tv one time and the priest was telling a story about one of the saints. I was so fascinated!! Is that what that is?? A story or parable??

 

[Dorothy]

Excuse me for I am learning, but what is a homily?? I think I seen one on tv one time and the priest was telling a story about one of the saints. I was so fascinated!! Is that what that is?? A story or parable??

After the Gospel is read at Mass, the priest gives a homily. The homily expounds on what was in the readings and what it means to us today.

 

[maltmom]

Excuse me for I am learning, but what is a homily?? I think I seen one on tv one time and the priest was telling a story about one of the saints. I was so fascinated!! Is that what that is?? A story or parable??

A homily is the “sermon” given after the scripture readings. The Priest or Deacon will discuss the readings and ways to incorporate what we are being taught in our daily lives. Sometimes the homily is about church teachings. I hope this helps.

 

[Becca3]

After the Gospel is read at Mass, the priest gives a homily. The homily expounds on what was in the readings and what it means to us today.

That is what I thought the priest was doing on tv. He had read some scripture then expounded on by giving an example of a saint living that scripture. I know I will like homilies!! For I love stories. So, is the homily given every Sunday at Mass??

 

[maltmom]

That is what I thought the priest was doing on tv. He had read some scripture then expounded on by giving an example of a saint living that scripture. I know I will like homilies!! For I love stories. So, is the homily given every Sunday at Mass??

A homily is given at every Mass, even those during the week. At weekday Mass they can be really short.

 

[Becca3]

A homily is given at every Mass, even those during the week. At weekday Mass they can be really short.

Oh ok. Thank you for your kind reply.

 

[Memaw]

It was definitely a catholic church/service. I did notice the parish bulletin there had the service listed with a four letter acronym after it, which i’m now assuming stood for “Sunday Celebration in the absence of a priest” or wtteo as pointed out by another poster.

As far as distance goes it’s only 20 mins or so to the main church. Not that it matters for me as I wont be going back now I know it’s not an actual mass.

I’m pretty sure it is an obligation judging by what I’ve read on this website and it’s forums and various other places. That said I think things can be both an obligation and a privilege, like voting in my country

Sorry but I didn’t write the last part but I do agree that Mass is a sacred privilege but it is also an obligation under the penalty of serious sin if deliberately missed for no good reason , such as serious illness etc. God Bless, Memaw

 

[TarkanAttila]

Kinda OT, but I couldn’t help but laugh - and groan - when you said “Buddy Christ”.

I would not attend churches affected by the hands of Cardinal Glick and his Catholicism WOW! campaign.

 

[MSSheBear]

What the OP described is very similar to the weekday Communion Service or whatever that we have during the week when our priest isn’t available. I have never had this happen at a Sunday Mass. In my area I have many Mass opportunities so I assume we would be expected to go to another parish if suddenly a priest wasn’t available. In our area apparently finding a substitute priest is difficult.

I thought a lay person wasn’t allowed to give a homily.

 

[paperwight66]

What the OP described is very similar to the weekday Communion Service or whatever that we have during the week when our priest isn’t available. I have never had this happen at a Sunday Mass. In my area I have many Mass opportunities so I assume we would be expected to go to another parish if suddenly a priest wasn’t available. In our area apparently finding a substitute priest is difficult.

I thought a lay person wasn’t allowed to give a homily.

They are allowed to read out a Reflection, I believe…

 

[OldNewCatholic]

Sorry but I didn’t write the last part but I do agree that Mass is a sacred privilege but it is also an obligation under the penalty of serious sin if deliberately missed for no good reason , such as serious illness etc. God Bless, Memaw

Oops sorry! I was trying to be fancy with the quotes.